APES in a Box: The Soil Profile

Cross-sectional soil layers from the surface of the soil down to the bedrock.
horizon: The surface layer of partially and completely un-decomposed plant
residue such as left litter.
A horizon: Upper layer of the soil commonly known as topsoil. Contains large
amount of decomposing organic material known as hummus, of living
organism that dwell in the soil.
B horizon: Subsoil. Plant and roots penetrate, but mostly the inorganic
content are in A.
C horizon: Made predominately of the parent material for the soil. Large
unbroken pieces of rock, weathered to produce the inorganic components of
the soil.